I do love reading Lucy Foley books. You can always be guaranteed a good solid story line with a thriller plot. This latest one was on point. Great story told in flashback and present / future although it was sometimes hard to keep up with the number of character sub-chapters and whether it was before or after the solstice. Also, some of the characters when they were younger had different nicknames and it sometimes difficult placing them in the present (but this might have been the author's intention). However, the vileness of some of the characters shone through and that made the book!

I’m always intrigued by Lucy Foley’s books as the plots and settings are always really unique.

I struggled with the amount of characters in the book, it was hard to keep up with who was who and I hated the folklore side of things. It felt unbelievable and silly and just isn’t my cup of tea.

I did love the writing though, I thought it was very clever how she wound up all the loose ends and she really had thought of everything.

Overall, mixed feelings on this one for me but a very intriguing and unique read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to review this excellent and entertaining thriller. Loved the various points of view, dual storyline, great imaginative setting and many twists. Will be a great summer read!

Multiple points of view bring Lucy Foley's latest murder mystery to vibrant life.
We get glimpses of the lives of both good and truly awful people before and after a terrible event.
A luxury hotel is opening on the Dorset coast. The owner is a truly ghastly woman, and you long for her comeuppance.
Foley only tells us what she wants us to know, and keeps the reader guessing about who the terrible events actually happen to.
I love being wrong-footed by a writer as skilled as Lucy Foley.
There's snatches of Saltburn and folk horror that make this a really good read. Five stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for providing eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Manor in Tome is having a grand opening brimming with people who've booked for an exotic and expensive getaway. But the manor survives hardly 3 days before everything turns into ashes. All this because of something that happened 15 years ago in the same place where Manor is built now. When everyone involved in the events that happened 15 years ago come together, truth unravels in a grand manner giving closure to all.
The atmosphere set is perfect for the local beliefs that plays a major part in the story and the writing perfectly captured the characters and their emotions throughout the book.
The story is told in 2 timelines, one following the events of the past and another of the present. While the past is shown through journal entries chronologically, the present day events show 3 days in manor following perspectives of 4 people, all jumbled, who have connection to the past event. This could be off putting for some readers. Though I could follow the story amongst all these perspectives, there were some answers left unsaid that made the story incomplete. Apart from that there were instances where people failed to recognise others just because they'd grown old, which felt unbelievable.
Overall this was a good book which had potential to be great but failed a little short on a lot of things.

This was a real thrill. A dark, smart, atmospheric page turner - I think this is my favourite Lucy Foley so far. This will make a great TV series

Well now, that wasn't at all what I expected, and I mean that in the best possible way. I opened this book expecting a thriller, and I got a thriller, but I also got local superstition and sinister goings on.
Lucy Foley sure knows how to weave a good story, creating tension and atmosphere, all designed to grab the reader and not let go.
There are many POV's in the story, but not so many that the reader loses the plot, if you'll pardon the pun.
There are also many plot twists, but that reveal at the end, I did not see that coming!
I really enjoyed this book, and I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A story with two timelines, 15 years ago as teenagers and the present time.
The old manor has been left to the granddaughter Francesca who with the financial help of her older twin brothers turns the family home into a high end wellness retreat and hotel.
A new generation of locals and resentment with the older generations building.
Secrets are unearthed both physically and emotionally.

The Midnight Feast is by far the best Lucy Foley book I have read so far.
This is a perfect summer read.

It is the summer solstice and the opening weekend of the manor, an idelic retreat for the upper class. Surrounded by an ominous wood that holds many tales and secrets.
Even though everything seems to quaint and perfect, it is far from that.

I loved the unfolding story which was told by five different characters, who you will either love or hate.

This is a most read that will have you hooked from start to finish.

‘I couldn’t resist a little nostalgic touch tonight. A nod to the midnight feasts of my childhood. The glorious golden hours I spent in this place. When you hear the sound of the gong, we’ll all take our seats to eat. In the meantime, enjoy yourselves and this gilded evening.’🐦‍⬛

Deliciously dark and chilling, this was an excellent thriller shrouded with mystery and secrets. Told from multiple points of view and split timelines. I am still in awe at the number of times I was in shock at what was being revealed, and I am now questioning why I have never read any of Lucy Foleys' books before.

Wow, once again Lucy writes an incredible book!! This was a great murder mystery and the plot and writing was amazing! I would highly recommend reading this. It was also told through multiple POVs which was great for this book!

My thanks to Netgallery and the publisher, Harper Collins for this ARC. The publication date is the 6th June.

This is the first novel by Lucy Foley I have read. I understand her previous books have been well received so thought I would give this one a go.

Set in costal Dorset, this tale mixes spooky horror, murder mystery, revenge and hubris in an entertaining story. With the novel's two intertwining story arcs 20 years apart, Ms Foley skillfully links the two parts of the story together, providing a few twists, along with couple of I knew it moments.

The description of the actual "Midnight Feast" is entertaining, although I have my doubts that the ingestion of psychedelics in cider would necessarily have created the effects Ms Foley described. Being a west country lad I like cider but I am aware that not every one does. I am sure that a reasonable number of people would not have indulged and this part of the plot did feel a little weak to me.

The final showdown on the cliff edge is well written and provides the reader with the finale they deserve. Ms Foley then adds a little epilogue with a further twist, complete with a joke worthy of a Carry On film to finish the novel with.

Overall an enjoyable read and I will be looking out for her previous works. Recommended.

Another brilliant dark thriller from Lucy Foley. Set on the Dorset coast, where hidden pagan rituals still play a part in the lives of the locals, it makes for the perfect chilling summer read. Francesca Meadows, and architect husband Owen, celebrate Solstice for the opening of Tome Manor, a luxurious hotel suitable only for the elite. But having encroached on an ancient forest (well-respected by locals), the celebrations do not go according to Francesca's seemingly perfect plan, as the folkloric group known as the "Birds" send sinister messages to uncover the Manor's dark past.

I really liked the incorporation of a character's childhood journal entries to gain insights into uncovering the mystery, and how secrets were covered up many years ago.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK & NetGalley for providing an early release copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed her previous book,The Guest List, so was excited to have the opportunity to read this one.
And it didn't disappoint!
The author has used five POV characters moving between 15 years ago to the present day, the evolving identities are read with ease, in this atmospheric, dark, fast paced, mystery thriller.

Thankyou to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved Lucy Foleys previous books so this was a must read for me and it does not disappoint.

Slow burn mystery thriller with multiple POV and twists you don't see coming.

Set in a new wellness retreat, that has upset some local people, the grand opening doesn't go to plan.

A huge event at a brand new hotel complex. Owner Francesca Meadows delights in the grandeur of the occasion. But the manor holds dark secrets from fifteen years ago and those secrets are at risk of being told.
I loved The Hunting Party and I felt Foleys other novels fell a little short. However, The Midnight Feast is her at her absolute best!! A murder mystery where even the victim isn’t unveiled until the very end. Told in three separate time periods and from the perspectives of all the main characters. We are given snippets of whodunnit but it keeps us guessing with plenty of red herrings. Most of the cast are completely unlikeable and although initially a little confusing, it all ties up together well. Atmospheric and with added folklore. Perfect for fans of the modern Agatha Christie style murder mysteries.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
I had really enjoyed The Paris Apartment and so was very much looking forward to reading this latest book by Lucy Foley. When I read the synopsis I was further enthused - it sounded very interesting. It is all about the opening of a wellness centre on the Dorset Coast owned by Francesca Meadows, a wealthy socialite who believes in the power of crystals. The centre has been designed by her husband Owen and is a wonder. But the locals are not happy – the centre is on ancient woodland where they have always had the right to roam and there are hints of malevolent forces at work in the forest.
The book is told by going back and forth in time from a variety of points of view. There is Eddie, the local, whose family own the nearby farm who is forced to accept work at the wellness centre. Then there is the guest Bella who has an obvious axe to grind with Francesca and is staying under a false name we also have Detective Walker who is investigating whatever happened at the Midnight Feast and we have a journal written 15 years before the events of the novel. Throughout we have hints of pagan rites related to birds - feathers found in the hotel and references to Du Maurier’s/Hitchcock’s The Birds. There is one scene where hundreds of birds gather which did make me feel unnerved as I read it.
However I found some of the novel implausible especially the reveals at the conclusion but it did keep me reading to the end. My main problem was that I found Francesca such an unpleasant character that I did not mind what happened to her wellness centre or her. I am sure others will have thoroughly enjoyed the novel but whilst I sped through the reading of it I did not love it. Many thanks to the author, Harper Collins and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
I give this book 4 stars.

Midsummer, the Dorset coast
In the shadows of an ancient wood, guests gather for the opening weekend of The Manor.
Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. A solstice supper when the body is found.
It all began with a secret, 15 years ago. Now the past has crashed the party. And it’ll end in ………..

A book filled with murder,secrets,folklore and revenge at an expensive retreat. Told through multiple POV’s and different timelines including diary flashbacks the author has a skill of still making this easy for the reader to follow. A slow burn mystery that is character (love or hate them) driven woven together with surprise twists.The reader needs to unravel the puzzle told through short chapters.Not my favourite by this author but an enjoyable read.
With thanks to Netgalley,Lucy Foley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for my chance to read and review this book

As with her previous books, Lucy Foley does a great job of creating a disquieting atmosphere and general feeling of dread. The writing is really very good.

For me, the plot was somehow a bit thin, though. None of the twists really shocked me, and it’s a very very slow burn. The chapters are all very short and it just felt like the narrative wasn’t given time to develop. The story was engaging but it just didn’t quite draw me in in the same way as her others have.

Thanks for the review copy in return for this honest review.

This was fine. It was definitely a slow burn. I could tell what the atmosphere was getting at but it never totally got there for me. It was a bit unreasonable that these people didn’t recognize any of each other. That being said, I am impressed that the author was able to weave everyone together so intricately and successfully. I was worried with so many characters that it would turn into a jumbled mess, but it never did.